The Inside Canada vs. Outside Canada Sponsorship Process

One of the quirkier features of Canadian immigration law is the distinction between what is generally referred to as the “Inside-Canada Sponsorship” process and the “Outside-Canada Sponsorship” process. The biggest myth is that if a couple is residing in Canada then they must use the “Inside-Canada Sponsorship” process. This is not true. However, each program contains advantages and disadvantages vis-a-vis the other, and I have provided a list of the key features and requirements of each program below.

Inside-Canada Process

Outside-Canada Process

The spouse/common-law partner must be in a genuine, conjugal relationship that was not entered into for the primary purpose of acquiring an immigration benefit.

The spouse/common-law partner must be in a genuine, conjugal relationship that was not entered into for the primary purpose of acquiring an immigration benefit.

The spouse/common-law partner must reside together in Canada.

The spouse/common-law partner do not have to reside together in Canada. As well, once a common-law relationship is established, periods of separation will not change their common-law status if there is a short separation that does not sever the common-law partnership.

The applicant must live with the spouse/common-law partner inside Canada during the duration of processing.

The applicant can live with the spouse/common-law partner inside Canada during the duration of processing, but does not have to.

The immigration paperwork is sent to a processing center inside Canada, and remains in Canada.

The immigration paperwork is sent to a processing center inside Canada, and it then may be transferred to a visa post outside of Canada.

If the applicant has valid temporary resident status in Canada, and submits an application to extend that status inside Canada with the permanent residence application, then the applicant will have implied status during the processing of the permanent residence application, provided he/she does not leave Canada.

If the applicant has valid temporary resident status in Canada, he/she must maintain his/her status. The process is separate from the permanent residence application, and there is no implied status for the duration of processing.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada will process the application even if the applicant does not have valid temporary resident status in Canada. If an individual has an application in processing, and is detained by the Canada Border Services Agency for being without status, then the applicant will generally benefit from a 60 day deferral period, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada will endeavour to process the permanent residence application within 60 days.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada will not process the application if the applicant does not have valid temporary resident status in Canada.

The current processing time is 27 months. At the 17th month mark, the Applicant will receive “first-stage approval” if it is determined that the spouse/common-law partnership is bona fide, and the applicant will be entitled to an open work permit.

Processing times vary depending on the visa post, and range from 10 months to 38 months. There is no first-stage approval for the issuance of open work permits.

There is currently a pilot project in place to provide work permits to applicants who have valid temporary resident status after 4 months of processing.

The permanent residence application is completely separate from any ability to work in Canada.

There is no appeal right to the Immigration Appeal Division. The only recourse is an application to Federal Court for judicial review.

There is a general appeal right to the Immigration Appeal Division, except for refusals based on serious criminality, terrorism, national security, espionage, and similar serious matters. The only recourse in those situations is an application to Federal Court for judicial review.

If the applicant leaves Canada and is for whatever reason denied re-entry by the Canada Border Services Agency, then the permanent residence application will be refused, and the applicant must start over from outside Canada.

If the applicant leaves Canada and is for whatever reason denied re-entry by the Canada Border Services Agency, this will generally not impact the permanent residence application.

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DISCLAIMER

Please note that none of the information on this website should be construed as being legal advice. As well, you should not rely on any of the information contained in this website when determining whether and how to apply to a given program. Canadian immigration law is constantly changing, and the information above may be dated. If you have a question about the contents of this blog, or any question about Canadian immigration law, please contact the Author

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DISCLAIMER

Please note that none of the information on this website should be construed as being legal advice. As well, you should not rely on any of the information contained in this website when determining whether and how to apply to a given program. Canadian immigration law is constantly changing, and the information above may be dated. If you have a question about the contents of this blog, or any question about Canadian immigration law, please contact the Author.